Brother

It doesn’t rain very often in December, and if it does, it’s never for very long. Friday night we had a thunderstorm, the kind that knocked down trees and the boats moored in the bay ended up on the shore. I love summer storms, the way lightning turned the sky purple as it zig zagged down from the heavens. We lost power just before dinner, our living room had become a disco from the constant flashes of light. Even with thunder loud enough to shake the windows, and with the wind howling through any crack in the windowsills, I managed to sleep.

Saturday morning I found Danny asleep on the other end of the bed, his feet poking into my side as he still managed to stretch out on the double bed. He was clearly the reason why I had been able to sleep so soundly, and I hated it, as much as I was thankful of it too.

Checking my phone, a group message had been going on around midnight, with Becky pulling out and calling us all crazy for wanting to risk going out in this weather. Rachelle insisted it would be over by tonight, and that the weather forecast was sunny and we should be thankful to get a break from the heat. Going over to my window, fresh blue skies dominated the morning, and there wasn’t a cloud in sight.

I packed my bag while Danny still slept and headed downstairs.

“What’s the bag for?” Dad asked as I dumped it by the front door.

“Camping remember?”

“I dunno if that’s a good idea Sarah. They reckon another front will be coming in tomorrow night.”

“Well, Rachelle did organise this, so it makes sense!” I smile.

“Where are you going again?”

“Oh, just, somewhere near Pemberton. We haven’t decided where, I guess where there aren’t many other campers to annoy us?”

“Well, when you find your spot, let me know. Just in case. It’s still bushfire season!” I let him lecture me on the do’s and don’ts of camping. He was the one who always used to take us out as kids, as well as Peta’s Dad, and I’ve heard it all a hundred times before. Mums at work, and so I make us breakfast, while Dad checks the yard for any damages.

“Danny, didn’t know you came home last night!” Dad grabs his plate and I crack another couple of eggs into the frying pan for him.

“Yeah, I got in just before the storm hit.” The pair start talking and I finish making us breakfast before taking a seat with them at the table. “So whats with the bag at the front door Sarah. Moving out?”

He plays it off as a joke, but I can see the panic in his eyes as he stares at me in that creepy, predatory way he seems to have learned from his wolf buddies.

“Crazy girl is going camping!” Dad tells him.

“That’s not a good idea Sar!”

“If I ever want advice from you, I’ll ask for it.” I snapped.

“Sarah!” Dad warned, trying to stop another argument from happening between us. “We both, don’t think it’s a good idea.”

“If the weather looks like it’s going to get bad, I promise we’ll pack up and come home!”

“Dad!” Danny groaned, growing frustrated.

“First sign Sarah, otherwise I’m coming down to get you and you’ll be grounded for the rest of the holidays!”

“Are you serious? You didn’t even know that he was home last night, but I tell you where I am going, and who with, and I get threatened with being grounded? How is that fair!” I stood up abruptly. “I cooked and I’m not doing the dishes!”

I went upstairs, stomping on each step as I went to the bathroom to get ready. They didn’t know Mrs John’s had given me the whole day off and so I headed to Rachelle’s early. She was already waiting and by the time we got to Peta’s and loaded up her Mums car, the others arrived.

“You girls be careful out there. Don’t go anywhere your phones are out of range!” Her Dad warned.

“We won’t Dad!” Peta rolled her eyes.

Looking around at these people I’d grown up with, we were still so young, yet old enough to be trusted to go out on our own. Our parents still cared, full with warnings and still trying to keep some control over our actions, while knowing most of us would be moving out of home next year and starting the next stage of our lives. I watched him head off in the direction of the shed where the barrels of wine from last years harvest waited for his attention before focusing back on my friends.

“Rach, why is this cooler bag full of, ten blocks of chocolate and four bags of party mix?” Wendi frowned, zipping it closed.

“Energy. I plan on waking at dawn to do some hiking. I need that sugar!” Rachelle argued.

“Is there any fruit?”

“I think Sarah got a bag of apples? Maybe? Or did I put those back?” She glanced my way and I nodded.

“You put them back, but I grabbed them anyway. Peta has oranges and I also got some bananas. Don’t worry Wendi!”

“At least someone knows how to be responsible!” She mumbled under her breath, and opening another of the food bags, shook her head at the packets of chips and pre made popcorn.

For some reason that comment bugged me. The whole way out of town I gripped the steering wheel so tight I don’t know how it didn’t bend. I was thankful I had on sunglasses otherwise they would have been able to see how I was glaring at them, at passing cars, at the directional signs at the side of the highway.

’Calm down. Breathe Sarah!’ I chanted in my mind.

This is what Danny said would happen. It would come and go in random bursts. No, not random. Anger. Getting angry seemed to be a trigger. I just wasn’t going to get angry; simple. If I can pick the signs of something happening, I can stop it before it becomes a problem. Control. I can control it. I’m not Danny.

“Sarah!” Rachelle yelled, and looking at her beside me, the music has been turned down and everyone is quiet.

“What?”

“You just missed the turn!” She pointed behind us and I looked around.

We couldn’t be here yet, we only just left. I slowed down, pulling off the highway onto muddy red dirt and looked around again. The trees had changed to the Karri kind this area was famous for and coughing awkwardly, I nodded.

“Sorry.”

“Want me to drive? You’ve been really quiet, and you can’t really be distracted out here.” Peta spoke up nervously. I know she hates driving on unsealed roads.

“No, no I’m fine.” I turn the car around and go down the right turn off.

Thankfully this car had four wheel drive abilities and we make it to the camping area with no troubles. I manage to stay involved with the conversation now; unlike the two hour drive here. There are two families set up nearby and we head closer to the river, but still far enough away from the bank that our parents wouldn’t worry if they saw our set up.

Thanks to the rain last night, the musty, earth perfume that always comes after it hasn’t rained for a while, filled the bush. It was quiet, with the gentle whooshing of the trees above us and the water bubbling away nearby the only noise. That and Rachelle’s singing as she tried to do her best pop star impersonation, while unloading the tent bag.

“Cause I’m still, I’m still jenny from the block!” She declared, dancing around the car.

“Then go back there!” Wendi groaned, taking the bag from her and after kicking a few branches out of the way, we all start the set up.

An hour later, it’s like we’ve been there a week with chairs set up around the concrete fire pit, we couldn’t actually use due to fire bans. Peta put the small gas burner she had in the center of it, and come dinner, that would be our equivalent of a fire to cook with, while the battery operated lanterns Helena had put around the place would give us some light.

Rachelle finished blowing up the mattresses and we put our bags in the tent with them. We could all fit in the one, with space for even more. Instead Rachelle got creative and created a little screen in one corner to act as a change room. Once we were all done, we stopped for a late lunch and then left our site to go down to the water. Despite the storm having cooled the temperature this morning, by the afternoon it was humid and horrible so we put on our bathers and stayed down there.

It was nearly dark when the kookaburra’s came, their songs echoing through the wilderness making it feel like we were miles away from everyone and anything; including werewolves called Danny. And Michael.

“Whatcha thinkin bout?” Rachelle mumbles chewing on something.

She throws a red snake at me, before shoving another in her mouth. The lolly slaps against my cheek and I quickly grab it so it doesn’t fall to the dirt; I’ve never been a fan of the five second rule.

“Stuff.” I answer before wrapping it around my finger and then stretching it out before eating it.

“Danny stuff?”

“Pretty much!” She sighs beside me and instead of throwing the lollies at me, offers me the bag so I grab a couple more. “This was a good idea Rach.”

“I agree.” Wendi emerges from the tent, no longer in her swimsuit.

We all sit around the pit, talking and laughing about everything and anything. It’s Helena who goes into her bag and pulls out a bottle of coconut rum and another of vodka, which then has us all getting drunk. Very drunk, and not just on alcohol, but on sugar too so we turn our camp site into a party, turning on the radio in the car for music and dancing around like the young, careless kids we really are.

Wendi passes out first, then Helena, and sure enough the others follow until it’s suddenly just me. I tidy up as best I can and turn off the radio and lights except for one and I’m nearly at the tent when I hear a noise that doesn’t belong in this scene.

A howl.

I freeze, cutting the light so I’m left in total darkness. There is no breeze, just suffocating humidity and the rustling of the trees leaves the area in silence. Even the river must have stopped as I can’t hear it anymore and the murmur of voices that had been nearby early from the other campsite was gone. Silence really could be deafening, and the night gave nothing away.

Then it happened again, a chorus like the birds from earlier than filled the night in such an almost beautiful way, if hadn’t been so scared, I could have enjoyed it. There was no way for me to tell how close they were, so to try and hide from my real life nightmares, I got into the tent and zipped it up, falling onto my bed.

I had lied to Dad about where we were going and where we had ended up and from those howls, I had a feeling Danny had just worked that out. Maybe it was knowing they were nearby, or maybe it was the alcohol finally taking over, but I had no problems falling asleep or staying that way until dawn.

-x-

It was heading towards midday on Sunday when the clouds started to roll in. Dark purple and heavy with the threat of rain, but we didn’t really care. The rocks were warm against our backs as we spread out in the river, dangling feet and legs into the water that slowly flowed past us. Crickets chirped, a true sound of summer, and by now the birds had disappeared to avoid the heat of the day.

Further down stream, one of the other lots of campers near us, were now testing out their new car, driving it over the rocks and through the water, constantly stopping to take photos of the passage this area got its name from; Moons Crossing. I’m sure there was some history behind it, I just didn’t know or care enough to learn about it.

“I’m hungry.” Rachelle emerged from the water, spraying water all over me as she shook her head.

“You’re always hungry!” Peta sighed.

The roar of a car engine had us all sitting up and looking down at what had been our only source of entertainment for the day, and the two SUV’s moved higher up the rocks as another spun its wheels on the gravel of the bank. It hit the knee deep water hard, shattering the calm flow as it turned into a tidal wave. The muddy bottom sent blooms of brown through the otherwise clear and pristine water, dirtying it up as the car was floored onwards. It finished cruising through the crossing, and then disappeared up the other side of the bank.

“What dickheads!” Wendi snapped, which followed the same train of the thought as our neighbours who stood around discussing what happened angrily.

“They’re coming back!” Helena pointed towards the other side and sure enough, the black Jeep appeared only this time it stopped and three guys got out.

My heart stopped for a second, paranoid that it was going to be Danny and the Blakes, but it wasn’t. The other campers moved on, and the guys busied themselves getting something we couldn’t see out of the car. As one of them took his shirt off and dived in, it was obvious they didn’t know we were there, or if they did know, they didn’t care.

“Oh! Check out blondie!” Rachelle practically panted as she dropped to sit beside me, slapping my arm. “He is all kinds of goodness!”

“City boys for sure!” Helena mumbled, her eyes not leaving the two who stood by their car.

The three of them studied our new companions like they were part of a science project and as it became obvious they were trying to catch marron, a crab like creature that kept me from touching the bottom when I was in the river.

“They’re not going to get much doing that!” Wendi criticized.

“Come on, let’s go help them then!” Rachelle grabbed my arm and hoisted me up as I realised she meant for me to go with her.

“Oh hell no!”

“Come on! I can’t go by myself!” She whined.

“I’ll go!” Peta volunteered and with the pair of them decided, Helena jumped in too so it was just Wendi and I left on the rocks.

Our friends weren’t shy, well, Rachelle wasn’t as she made sure they knew everything they were doing wrong. After a few tips, they tried a different approach with the girls help.

“Did you want to come back with me?” Wendi asked, standing to wrap her towel around her waist.

“Yeah, may as well.” We left the others with their new friends and getting back, I found my phone and checked it.

Four missed calls from Michael, ten from Danny and a bunch of texts. I deleted them all except the one from Mum, and sent her a picture of our tent to keep her happy before turning it back off. The humidity broke thanks to the clouds that came with a cooler breeze and getting changed I found my sneakers.

“Will you be okay if I go for a run?” I asked Wendi, tying up my laces.

“Yeah, but be careful of snakes!”

I laughed her worries off, that was the last thing I was going to be thinking about and finding the start of one of the hiking tracks, I took off at a jog. I hadn’t gone far when the first drops of rain started, but I barely noticed. My phone felt like it weighed a tonne in my pocket, and stopping to get my breath back at the top of the hill, I got it out.

“Here I was thinking you were avoiding me!” Michael greeted.

“What gave you that impression?” I answered him back with the same sarcasm he had used with me.

“Look, let’s start over. This is too hard, and what’s happened, has happened. You can’t hold it against me forever!”

Yeah, I could.

“So hear me out, please. I was in town earlier, and I heard that the Christmas Eve carols are kind of big deal around here, so I was wondering if you’d want to go, with me, to the carols thing.” He finished quickly, like he was nervous.

Then it hit me. No wonder he sounded nervous, he was asking me out. “That’s not a good idea.”

“Why not?” Michael demanded.

“You’re a-”

“No. Forget that. You’re just making excuses now.”

“Shouldn’t that be enough of an answer then?” I retorted, cringing at how rude I sounded. For what ever reason, he always managed to bring out the worst in me.

“I’ve told you Sarah, I liked you before I knew who you actually were and I’m not letting that change anything. Don’t deny you’re not even a little bit interested!” He persisted.

“I’m not interested, not even a little bit Michael.”

“I don’t have to see you to know you’re lying.” The answer came quickly, too quick and maybe a tiny part of me, like a fingernail sized part of me knew I was too.

“I’m not lying! You’re right. You’re more than a werewolf, pack leader, stalker! You’re too much! You just creep around the place, turning up when I don’t want you to, being all cryptic with your tests and messing with my mind, while being easy to talk to and, and-” I hung up, feeling breathless as the rain started to increase from a few drops to a light shower.

I fell against the nearest tree, trying to calm myself down as I felt dizzy. Looking up at the sky, the trees all started to spin so closing my eyes, I waited for it to pass. Thankfully it didn’t last long, or get any worse. It was then my phone rang again and I hit answer already knowing it was Michael calling again..

“You can’t just kiss me how you did, and be all nice, like helping me sleep, or sort out Danny’s weirdness!” I stopped, taking a deep breath. “I don’t understand what keeps happening to me!” I yelled, completely frustrated now.

“I know, I’m sorry. You okay?” He asked softly.

“I think so.” I answer after a couple of minutes. “See! You can’t be all phoning me, asking me out and being all you like, to then be nice and ask if I’m okay!”

“Well, I thought I was being rather, boundary minded, by asking you out this way and you hung up on me, of course I’m going to ask if you’re okay?” It come out rather matter of factly, like I was the idiot for even telling him that.

“How?”

“I could be running around with Danny trying to find you? I didn’t think you’d appreciate that.” He answered smugly. “I’m giving you space. Work with me here Sarah, I grew up with werewolves. We shift, get naked, fight for dominance and run around as wolves. When things are good in the pack, it is worse than your biggest, craziest family and will put your overbearing older country women to shame with the gossip and smothering! My idea of personal space and boundaries aren’t quite up to your standards, but I’m trying!”

That left me speechless. He had never even mentioned pack, other than what he told me about Scott, and his Dad. Because of the whole notorious crime, gang leader thing, I had just presumed it was all drug deals, and murder, or whatever it is criminals do. It never occurred to me he could have a family, maybe like mine, with an insane grandparent or horrible cousins. What was his Mum like before she died?

No. I couldn’t pity him; he was trying to play me now. Danny probably told him to try a sob story to get me to listen to him and I couldn’t believe he didn’t know who I was the first time we met. He’d given me back my headband. It was definitely the first time we met. I’d remember, because, well, I did find him attractive. I sat down on a fallen tree log, thankful the rain had already stopped. The more I thought about it, the more I felt like I was missing something; because I was.

It hadn’t been the first time we met.

The more I thought about it, the clearer it became. He had been wearing a cap with a sporting team on it I hadn’t even heard of before on the front, and dark sunglasses the first time we actually met. His jumper was at least two sizes too big and his hand had been in a bandage, which made him drop his change at the grocery store. I’d picked it up for him and a couple of days later, paid for his coffee when Mr. Harrison’s eftpos was offline in his store because I had cash, and was already getting Rachelle’s.

“You there?” Michael snapped me back into reality.

It took me a second, and I failed miserably at holding in my emotions - fighting to choke back a sob. I didn’t know what to think. Why did everything suddenly get so complicated?

“What do want from me?” Defeat was clear in my voice; I felt it too.

“Just a chance, Bright Eyes.”

“I gotta go.” I hung up and turned my phone off.

A few minutes later I was running again, and by the time I got back to the campsite, I’d been gone for much longer than I had planned to be. Not that anyone noticed as I found we now had company.The black jeep was parked beside my car, and extra chairs had the guys sitting around the concrete pit like they had always been apart of our group.

“Hey! You’re back!” Rachelle bounces up off her chair and come running over. “I hope you don’t mind, but the blonde guy is really nice and I couldn’t resist inviting them over.”

They guys are introduced as she leads me back over. Wendi is no where to be seen and Peta is talking about horses, very loudly, with a beer in her hand that we didn’t bring with us. Her companion is talking back in the same fashion, only he keeps running his hand through his reddish blonde hair. Constantly and instantly got on my already raw nerves.

“Thats Steve with Peta, this is Luke and Ben. Guys, this my best friend Sarah!” She points at each of the guys, and I stop at Ben. He looks kind of familiar and he seems to think the same thing about me.

“I know you from somewhere.” He acts on it instantly.

“Ah, are you from our town?” I ask lamely.

“No, visiting from Mandurah.” Ben tells me.

Peta giggles as blondie does something so hilarious I miss it and suddenly I’m just standing there with Ben. I look around for Helena, and she is gone too. Ben clicks his fingers, smirking as he must work it out.

“Danny’s sister, Sally!” He exclaims.

“Excuse me?”

“You were at the Blakes, remember? I helped Jake carry Danny to your car!”

“Benno?” I vaguely came up with the name, I hadn’t seen him before that night or since.

“Yeah, thats right!” Benno grinned, and the cold breeze instantly made me shiver. “So, how is Dan going? Is he here?”

I might not be able to smell lies like some people, but I could hear the double meaning to his words. There was also no missing the way he glanced at his mates, who seemed completely oblivious to our conversation. I wasn’t fooled and looking at him a little closer, I wondered how you could pick those who were werewolves. Maybe if I accepted Michaels date proposal, he could tell me.

“Great, he’s actually staying out there weekend. Michael has an old car Danny is helping him work on.” The lie comes from me naturally and Benno nods, buying it.

“Good good. He was acting strange that night I helped you. Wasn’t sick or anything?”

“No, well, yes, hung-over! But that’s Danny!”

Fresh drops of rain came down in warning and looking up at the sky, the clouds looked low enough to touch the tree tops. It would be dangerous out here if the wind got any stronger; any of those branches could fall.

“I’ll be back, I just need a jumper.” I smiled and he nodded, completely relaxed as he went and sat by Luke.

Wendi and Helena were stretched out on their beds reading, but stopped as I came in.

“Another front will hit tonight, the weather is only going to get worse. We should pack up and head into town to see if we can stay somewhere or go home and hopefully get back before it crosses the coast.” Wendi tells me, sounding like she’s already said that same bit of information a hundred times before.

“I think I agree with her now. Where have you been?” Helena asks.

Looking around, all our stuff has been packed up, and all thats left it let down the beds and dismantle the tent. The canvas walls were sucked in and out, as if it had come alive, breathing for the first time. I found my jumper and slipped it on, nodding at the others.

“If it’s as bad as Friday night, let’s go home.” Wendi instantly started to let the air out of the mattresses and I went back outside. “Say goodbye girls, we’re going home.”

“What?” Peta called out, her hair blowing in front of her face.

Ignoring her, I looked at the guys and stopped at Benno. “Go back to your site, we’re leaving!”

“Over a bit of weather?” He mocked.

“Yeah. You’d be smart to do the same!”

I started packing up our chairs and opened the car to load things away. To my surprise Benno was there, helping with the grill. “We have a cabin not far from here. You lot could come with us?”

“No. I’m over camping.” I hesitated. “Thanks for the offer.”

“Well Danny is a good friend of mine, I’m sure he’ll appreciate me trying to look out for his sister?”

“I know Danny’s friends, and you are not one of them.” He was getting on my nerves and shadowed me as suddenly everyone was helping. It wasn’t a bad thing, it got the job done quicker as the sky only get darker.

We were finished and while Peta argued with Wendi over leaving out the chocolate to eat in the car, and Rachelle exchanged numbers with Luke, I did the polite thing of taking one of their fold out chairs over the back of the car with Benno. I’d just put it down and turned to leave when his hand was suddenly over my mouth and his larger frame had me stuck against the car.

“What else do you know about Danny, and his friends?” He snarled at me, slowly moving his hand away for me to answer.

“Enough to know that if you don’t let me go right now, you’re in trouble!” I snapped back, glaring at him.

“Oh? Is that so?” Came his reply.

“Yeah. He’s beaten up people who have threatened me before!” Playing dumb, I started to ramble and make it out like I just think my twin is a tough guy. I told him about pushing Jake off the monkey bars and scaring off any boys who wanted to ask me out. “So if I tell him, his good friend Benno, did this, he’s going to be so mad!”

Benno laughs and lets me go, which then has me kicking him right in the groin. A familiar anger burns through my body and I’m tempted to kick him while he’s down. “I don’t need Danny to look out for me. Come near me again, and Danny will be the least of your worries. Now, go!”

He paused his groaning, looking up at me from where he had fallen to his knees and his eyes dilate in a heartbeat, as his lips curl into a snarl.

“Fine. We’re going!” Benno mumbled.

I didn’t drop his gaze, and clenching my fists I held my breath. I felt taller, stronger, and when he looked back to the ground, I felt a rush of satisfaction take over from the anger. I left him there and went back to the car, where everyone had already gotten in.

“What were you doing?” Wendi asked as I opened my door.

“Nothing.” I looked back over to the guys who had just started their car, and as if to prove a point, I didn’t move as they went past us; making sure they knew they were the ones retreating. Not me.

We went down the opposite track as it started to rain. The other campsites near us were all empty now too and I nearly had us at the highway when I saw something move on the track ahead. The second I worked out it was a black dog, I knew it wasn’t a dog at all.

“Rach, look!” I nudged her arm as she fiddled with the radio.

“Shit. Is that-?”

“Yeah.” Looking behind us, Peta had passed out, Helena was simply asleep and Wendi was reading. “He can go in the back.”

She says nothing as I get out. “Come on, stupid hitchhikers!”

He whines, and runs over; panting heavily as he stands beside me. I lift the back and rearrange a couple of things, thankful Peta’s Mums car had such a big back space and Danny manages to jump in and crawl between the tent and the chairs. It can’t be comfortable, but then running around in this weather, miles from home can’t be easy either.

No one says anything about the wet dog smell, and it’s barely six o’clock when the weather gets worse. By the time we’re back at Peta’s, I let Rachelle work out a lie about the very large dog we picked up. Danny plays the part, acting much too friendly and excited to be in the barn. Her dogs are wary of him at first, but soon lose interest and Peta locks him into one of the empty horse stalls. We watch him dig around in the hay and sniff every inch of the box, while everyone discusses what breed he could be.

“Malamute, cause they’re the big wolf looking things, crossed with a shepherd. He has their long legs and narrow head.” Helena decides.

“I want to call him Black Beauty.” Wendi surprises us all at her little declaration.

“I think Sheep suits him. That thick coat of his could do with a trim!” My teasing manages to get a growl out of him and the girls, excluding Rachelle; all baby talk the cute, big puppy, who they just want to cuddle.

If only they knew.

He’s left with water and dog biscuits, as well as a promise of calling the ranger in the morning to take him to the pound. While I call my parents and tell them we’re safe at Peta’s house, with the luxury of hot showers and her Mum’s homemade pizza, Wendi rants about irresponsible pet owners who don’t neuter their dogs to stop them wandering away from home and for not putting collars and tags on their dogs.

It’s a shame that come morning when we brave the last of the rain from the storm to go back out to the barn, our rescue dog is gone and Peta notices that he didn’t eat any of the biscuits she left out for him either.